Free-drop off recycling service in Manson set to close at the end of June

MANSON - The trash cans in Manson will likely be a little more full this summer now that the drop-of recycling site is set to be permanently closed beginning June 30.

The report came out after last Thursday, June 1 after Jill Fitzsimmons, spokeswoman for Chelan Public Works, made the announcement in a press release to media members.

After originally suspending free curbside recycling in February - once grant funding for the service ran out - Fitzsimmons said that Manson business could still use the free drop-off location at the Red Apple Market. As of July, they will no longer be able to enjoy that option.

The reason: “it is no longer financially sustainable,” Fitzsimmons wrote in the release on Thursday. “The City of Chelan, which was servicing the bins under an agreement with Chelan County, unfortunately cannot continue the program because it is no longer sustainable.”

According to Fitzsimmons, the collection bins located on Quetilquasoon Road have become a draw for illegal dumping. As a result, the program has incurred additional costs associated with sorting the bins because people were contaminating recyclables with garbage.

This combined with the significant drop in price paid for recyclable commodities made the Manson drop off station impracticable.  

The Chelan County Public Works Solid Waste Department has stated that maintaining and servicing the collection bins is costing about $35,000 per year.

Citizens will be able to continue taking their recyclables to the North Chelan Recycling Center in Chelan or Central Washington Recycling in Wenatchee. The Chelan Recycling Center, located near the Chelan Transfer Station is open from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m, Tuesday through Saturday.  Central Washington Recycling in Wenatchee is open 9 a.m. to 4 p.m, Tuesday through Saturday.

In the meantime, Zippy Disposal Services is currently working on developing a curb side recycling program for both Manson-area commercial and residential customers in 2018. Although the service will likely not be free, the details have yet to be hashed out.

Drop-off collection bins are monitored by security cameras and people caught illegally dumping garbage at the site will be prosecuted.

Zach Johnson can be reached at lcmeditor@gmail.com or (509) 682-2213